Lee Michaels, the senior member of the firm, has been practicing law since 1967.

Lee was born and raised in Auburn, graduating from East High School in 1958, Cornell University in 1962, and Syracuse Law School with high honors in 1967.

Between 1962 and 1964, Lee served as a gunnery and deck officer in the destroyer force of the United States Navy Pacific Fleet, which included brief operational service on the USS Southerland DDR-743 off the coast of Viet Nam as hostilities began.

Lee has been active in the alumni organizations of Syracuse University College of Law, serving on its Board of Visitors, of which he was Vice Chairman between 1998 and 2002, and its Law College Association, of which he was President between 1996 and 2002. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Law, teaching Trial Practice. He has been nominated for the Roscoe Pound Award, given annually to an adjunct professor in an American law school for excellence in teaching trial practice. He was the recipient of the Syracuse College of Law’s Distinguished Alumnus Service Award in 2007.

He is a past President of the Upstate Trial Lawyers' Association, a past President of the Cayuga County Bar Association, a former Emeritus Director of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA), and was for several years a trustee and vice chairman of the Lawyers Political Action Committee. He was the Affiliate Editor of "Bill of Particulars," NYSTLA's quarterly newsletter. He is presently a member of the New York Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a published author and frequent lecturer at Continuing Legal Education Programs of the New York State Bar Association, Onondaga County Bar Association, Monroe County Bar Association, Cayuga County Bar Association, and New York State Trial Lawyers Association.

Lee has been listed as one of the Best Trial Lawyers in America since 1985 and is a certified Diplomat of the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1984. He has received the highest ranking (“AV”) in the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell directory. This “AV” rating means that judges and other lawyers have rated him, compared to other lawyers, “very high to preeminent in legal ability, expertise, experience, integrity and overall professional excellence.” In addition, Lee has been selected as “Super lawyer” by Law & Politics Magazine. The title “Super Lawyer” is given only to those attorneys who are considered to be among the top 5% of all lawyers in the State of New York.

Lee has been active for many years in his community having previously served as President of the Cayuga County United Way, a member of the Board of the New York State United Way, a member of Hospice of the Finger Lakes, and President of Congregation B'nai Israel.

He has been associated for over three decades with local athletics and has been a member of Auburn’s Great Race (believed to be the largest team triathlon in the United States) committee for over 30 years. He is also an avid swimmer, bicyclist and runner and competes in triathlons.

Lee and his wife, Susan, reside a short distance west of Auburn in the small picturesque Village of Skaneateles. His two daughters, Rebecca Kornet and Emily Michaels Kolle, and four grandchildren, Jack, Rachel and Sam Kornet, and Hannah Kolle, all live in the Boston metropolitan area.